Awareness campaign launched

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Mahila Samaj Sewa and Vikas Samiti, a national NGO involved in awareness programmes on various aspects of primary and secondary healthcare, has launched an awareness campaign against contamination of Intravenous fluids used in large volumes in hospitals.  It was the death of pregnant women in Jodhpur allegedly caused by contamination of IV fluids that kicked off this campaign. The NGO has since then been working in as many as six states and has created awareness in this regard in over 80 districts in the country.  “Intravenous Fluids and the entire life cycle of the fluid is often misunderstood or misread, which can lead to the loss of human life. As an NGO dedicated to creating awareness and building opinion on a diverse range of health issues, including women empowerment and child welfare, we feel that the time has come when all stakeholders need to come together to address aspects related to the manufacture, storage, handling and administration of this critical life supporting fluid,” said Sandeep Yadav, coordinator, Mahila Samaj Sewa and Vikas Samiti.  The NGO has identified 30 hospitals and 7 nursing homes in the state where education related to safe administration, handling and storage would be shared through audio visual aids, copies of the recent DCGI and CDSO guidelines as well as necessary DOs and DON’Ts to be kept in mind, by support and nursing staff while storing and administering the fluid.  “While the people directly associated with the IV fluids are doctors, nurses and the paramedical staff, there would be training modules and workshops for them that would involve pharmacists and medical practitioners,” said Sandeep Yadav.   Deputy Drug Controller (Retd), Govt of India, Kapil Bhargava, who was part of this awareness forum said that the subject of IV fluids is indeed critical to mankind.  “The objective is to highlight good storage practices, distribution and administration of the fluids. It is essential for the recent DCGI guidelines to build greater degree of consensus between various groups involved in the effective administration.”